Tag: Frankenstein Play

Detail shots from the theater vid

I noticed how intensely Dylan was conversing with Mrs C. He was super focused and engaged with her as if what they were discussing was of crucial importance. And Zack was like his anchor to break a smile and relax momentarily. However, his body language, with awkwardly folded arms, was all kinds of uncomfortable as he stands there enduring a social situation and trying to co-exist in a sea of people (all much shorter than himself) and not being able to meld. The sense is that he related to most of the crew around him as distant school work acquaintances. And Dylan seems to seek out Zack whenever possible and follows him around like his security blanket much of the time. We don’t really see him engaging with the other students – at least not in the 4:25 of the vid. He doesn’t even chat with John Savage or Devon Adams (standing right near him and looking very diminutive in his tall, gangly (and emaciated) presence.
Dylan is very careful with the handling of his coat. When he takes it off, he doesn’t bunch it up in his arms as most people would tend to do but rather, holds the coat out dangling before him while he is crouched near the edge of the stage discussing play technical details with Mrs. C and Zack. He may have learned to take extra care with the handling of his coat due to the fabric being “oil skin” which I’m guessing might get permanent crinkles if scrunched up in his arms. Oh, and, you gotta love the way Dylan just jumps off the stage as if it’s nothing. I’ve been in that theater…that ledge is not exactly a hop, skip, and a jump.. except for Mr. Long Legs. 🙂
Near the end, to my painful observations, Zack appears to be almost blatantly? ignoring Dylan who had just jumped off the stage in concern as to what Zack was complaining about (staring at the ceiling with an exasperated “Well, that’s just GREAT.”. Dylan says “what’s wrong?” as he jumps down and then seems awkward and rather lost that Zack brushes past him without a word. I have a theory on this snapshot of their relationship in this tiny end segment which is kind of disheartening.. Notice the rhythmic, odd hand/finger gesturing he is doing. Sue mentioned in her book that Dylan would often click his hands while anxious or in thought. It’s almost like he is self soothing.
Lastly, Dylan looks like such a baby in this last image. He morphs fluidly between man-child at age 17.

Happy 39th Birthday

Source: Bill Ockham

Such the efficient theater tech ever observing everything from the sidelines, gazing down at the sea of your peers everyone existing below you, seeing only the tops of their heads, with a lonesome, somber expression. An occasional small smile for your best friend, Zack. But mainly, you are going through the motions of your life. So very tall, so very thin that you are literally swimming in your pants. Mrs. C engages you. So glad she made you feel included in the Frankenstein production..and many others. Alas…we are still wistfully thinking of you down here on the earth and the suffering and pain you caused within your own silent suffering. The tragedy that was and is you. No one knew. But in we can see it here. Wishing you could still exist here beside us all at 39 to have lived the rich fullness of your life with as many or more good times to eclipse all the downs that you could only myopically see then. Happy Birthday Dylan. Many still think of you; we wish you were here. We wished you had lived the fullness of your life and that others had been spared to live the fullness of their own.